Henry Francis Lyte - Henry Francis Lyte Biography - Poem Hunter Henry Francis Lyte - Henry Francis Lyte Biography - Poem Hunter Biography of Henry Francis Lyte Henry Francis Lyte was a Scottish Anglican divine and hymn-writer. Biography Henry Francis Lyte was born to Thomas and Anna Maria Lyte on a farm at Ednam, near Kelso, Scotland. Thomas deserted the family shortly after making arrangements for his two oldest sons to attend Portora Royal School in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh; and Anna moved to London, where both she and her youngest son died. The headmaster at Portora, Dr. Robert Burrowes, recognized Henry Lyte's ability, paid the boy’s fees, and "welcomed him into his own family during the holidays." Lyte was effectively an adopted son. Religious Conversion After studying at Trinity College, Dublin and with very limited training for the ministry, Lyte took Anglican holy orders in 1815, and for some time he held a curacy in Taghmon near Wexford. Lyte's "sense of vocation was vague at this early stage.

Perhaps he felt an indefinable desire to do something good in life." However, in about 1816, Lyte experienced an evangelical conversion. In attendance on a dying priest, the latter convinced Lyte that both had earlier been mistaken in not having taken the Epistles of St. Paul "in their plain and literal sense." Lyte began to study the Bible "and preach in another manner," following the example of four or five local clergymen whom he had previously laughed at and considered "enthusiastic rhapsodists." Early Career and Marriage In 1817 Lyte became a curate in Marazion, Cornwall, and there met and married Anne Maxwell, daughter of a well-known Scottish-Irish family. She was 31, seven years older than her husband and a "keen Methodist." Furthermore, she "could not match her husband's good looks and personal charm." Nevertheless, the marriage was happy and successful. Ann eventually made Lyte's situation more comfortable by contributing her family fortune, and she was an excellent manager of the house and finances. They had two daughters and three sons, one of whom was the chemist and photographer Farnham Maxwell-Lyte.

From 1820 to 1822 the Lytes lived in Sway, Hampshire. Itself only five miles from the sea, the house in Sway was the only one the couple shared during their marriage that was neither on a river or by the sea. At Sway Lyte lost a month-old daughter and wrote his first book, later published as Tales In Verse Illustrative of the Several Petitions of the Lord's Prayer (1826). In 1822 the Lytes moved to Dittisham, Devon, on the River Dart and then, after Lyte had regained some measure of health, to the small parish of Charleton. Brixham About April 1824, Lyte left Charleton for Lower Brixham, a Devon fishing village. Almost immediately, Lyte joined the schools committee, and two months later he became its chairman. Also in 1824, Lyte established the first Sunday school in the Torbay area and created a Sailors' Sunday School. Although religious instruction was given there, the primary object of both was educating children and seamen for whom other schooling was virtually impossible.

Each year Lyte organized an Annual Treat for the 800-1000 Sunday school children, which included a short religious service followed by tea and sports in the field. Shortly after Lyte's arrival in Brixham, the minister attracted such large crowds that the church had to be enlarged—the resulting structure later described by his grandson as "a hideous barn-like building."Lyte added to his clerical income by taking resident pupils into his home, including the blind brother of Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, later British prime minister. Character and Personality Lyte was a tall and "unusually handsome" man, "slightly eccentric but of great personal charm, a man noted for his wit and human understanding, a born poet and an able scholar." He was an expert flute player and according to his great-grandson always had his flute with him. Lyte spoke Latin, Greek, and French; enjoyed discussing literature; and was knowledgeable about wild flowers.

At a former military hospital at Berry Head, Lyte built a magnificent library—largely of theology and old English poetry—described in his obituary as "one of the most extensive and valuable in the West of England." Nevertheless, Lyte was also able to identify with his parish of fishermen, visiting them at their homes and on board their ships in harbor, supplying every vessel with a Bible, and compiling songs and a manual of devotions for use at sea. In theology Lyte was a conservative evangelical who believed that that man's nature was totally corrupt. Lyte frequently rose at 6 AM and prayed for two or more hours before breakfast. In politics, Lyte was a Conservative who feared revolt among the irreligious poor. He publicly opposed Catholic Emancipation by speaking against it in several Devon towns, stating that he preferred Catholics to be "emancipated from priests and from the power of the factious and turbulent demagogues of Ireland." Lyte, a friend of Samuel Wilberforce, also opposed slavery, organizing an 1833 petition to Parliament requesting it be abolished in Great Britain.

Decline and Death In poor health throughout his life, Lyte suffered various respiratory illnesses and often visited continental Europe in attempts to check their progress. In 1835 Lyte sought appointment as the vicar of Crediton but was rejected because of his increasingly debilitating asthma and bronchitis. In 1839, when only 46, Lyte wrote a poem entitled "Declining Days." Lyte also grew discouraged when numbers of his congregation (including in 1846, nearly his entire choir) left him for Dissenter congregations, especially the Plymouth Brethren, after Lyte expressed High Church sympathies and leaned toward the Oxford Movement. By the 1840s, Lyte was spending much of his time in the warmer climates of France and Italy, making written suggestions about the conduct of his family's financial affairs after his death. When his daughter was married to his senior curate, Lyte did not perform the ceremony. Lyte complained of weakness and incessant coughing spasms, and he mentions medical treatments of blistering, bleeding, calomel, tartar emetic, and "large doses" of Prussic acid.

Yet his friends found him buoyant, cheerful, and keenly interested in affairs of the Europe around him. Lyte spent the summer of 1847 at Berry Head then, after one final sermon to his congregation on the subject of the Holy Communion, he left again for France. He died at Nice on November 20, 1847, where he was buried. Works Lyte's first composition was Tales in Verse illustrative of Several of the Petitions in the Lord's Prayer (1826), written at Lymington and commended by John Wilson in the Noctes Ambrosianae. Lyte next published Poems, chiefly Religious (1833), and in 1834, a small collection of psalms and hymns entitled The Spirit of the Psalms. After his death, a volume of Remains (1850) with a memoir was issued, and the poems contained in this, with those in Poems, chiefly Religious, were afterward published in one volume (1868).

Three of Lyte's best-known hymns are paraphrases of psalms, published in The Spirit of the Psalms: “Praise, my soul, the King of heaven” (Psalm 103), “God of Mercy, God of Grace” (Psalm 67), and “Pleasant are thy courts above” (Psalm 84). Lyte's best known hymns are: Abide with me! fast falls the eventide Jesus, I my cross have taken Praise, my soul, the King of Heaven Pleasant are Thy courts above. Of these hymns, "Abide With Me" is the best known. According to the traditional story given in the Remains, Lyte wrote it a few hours after conducting the final service at his church, which was probably 5 September 1847. More likely the hymn was actually written in July or August of that year. Lyte himself created for the hymn what his biographer has disparaged as "a dull tune." When Hymns Ancient and Modern was published in 1861, the editor, William H.

Monk—whose three-year-old daughter had just died—composed his own tune, "Eventide," for Lyte's poem. The hymn became a favorite of George V and George VI and was sung at the former's funeral. The hymn also inspired Field Marshal Herbert Kitchener and General Charles "Chinese" Gordon, and it was said to have been on the lips of Edith Cavell as she faced a German firing squad. "Abide with Me" has been sung at the FA Cup finals since 1927 when the association secretary substituted the hymn for the playing of "Alexander's Ragtime Band." Significance Leon Litvack has written in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography that although Lyte's "poetic energies were directed at scripturally and evangelically minded audiences, his lyric gift was universally appreciated. The example of ‘Abide with me’ is instructive: intensely personal and contemplative, yet nationally popular—even being sung (always, after its publication in 1861, to W. H.

Monk's tune, ‘Eventide’) on secular occasions such as at football matches, and especially, since 1927, at the English cup final." The 20th-century hymnologist Erik Routley referred to the "much-loved H. R. Lyte" who "though scriptural and evangelical in his emphases, always writes good literature and is rarely deserted by an exquisite lyric gift. Perhaps the centrally 'romantic' hymn of all hymns is the intensely personal yet, as it has proved, wholly universal hymn, 'Abide with me.'" Henry Francis Lyte's Works: Tales in Verse illustrative of Several of the Petitions in the Lord's Prayer (1826) Poems, chiefly Religious (1833) The Spirit of the Psalms (1834) Remains (1850) Poems, chiefly Religious (1868). This page is based on the copyrighted Wikipedia Henry Francis Lyte; it is used under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License . You may redistribute it, verbatim or modified, providing that you comply with the terms of the CC-BY-SA.

Henry Francis Lyte Poems Henry Francis Lyte - Hymnary.org Log in to make the most of Hymnary.org collections. Henry Francis Lyte Death Year: 1847 Lyte, Henry Francis, M.A., son of Captain Thomas Lyte, was born at Ednam, near Kelso, June 1, 1793, and educated at Portora (the Royal School of Enniskillen), and at Trinity College, Dublin, of which he was a Scholar, and where he graduated in 1814. During his University course he distinguished himself by gaining the English prize poem on three occasions. At one time he had intended studying Medicine; but this he abandoned for Theology, and took Holy Orders in 1815, his first curacy being in the neighbourhood of Wexford. In 1817, he removed to Marazion, in Cornwall. There, in 1818, he underwent a great spiritual change, which shaped and influenced the whole of his after life, the immediate cause being the illness and death of a brother clergyman.

Lyte says of him:— "He died happy under the belief that though he had deeply erred, there was One whose death and sufferings would atone for his delinquencies, and be accepted for all that he had incurred;" and concerning himself he adds:— "I was greatly affected by the whole matter, and brought to look at life and its issue with a different eye than before; and I began to study my Bible, and preach in another manner than I had previously done." From Marazion he removed, in 1819, to Lymington, where he composed his Tales on the Lord's Prayer in verse (pub. in 1826); and in 1823 he was appointed Perpetual Curate of Lower Brixham, Devon. That appointment he held until his death, on Nov. 20, 1847. His Poems of Henry Vaughan, with a Memoir, were published in 1846. His own Poetical works were:— (1) Poems chiefly Religious 1833; 2nd ed. enlarged, 1845.

(2) The Spirit of the Psalms, 1834, written in the first instance for use in his own Church at Lower Brixham, and enlarged in 1836; (3) Miscellaneous Poems (posthumously) in 1868. This last is a reprint of the 1845 ed. of his Poems, with "Abide with me" added. (4) Remains, 1850. Lyte's Poems have been somewhat freely drawn upon by hymnal compilers; but by far the larger portion of his hymns found in modern collections are from his Spirit of the Psalms. In America his hymns are very popular. In many instances, however, through mistaking Miss Auber's (q. v.) Spirit of the Psalms, 1829, for his, he is credited with more than is his due. The Andover Sabbath Hymn Book, 1858, is specially at fault in this respect.

The best known and most widely used of his compositions are "Abide with me, fast falls the eventide;” “Far from my heavenly home;" "God of mercy, God of grace;" "Pleasant are Thy courts above;" "Praise, my soul, the King of heaven;" and "There is a safe and secret place." These and several others are annotated under their respective first lines: the rest in common use are:— i. From his Poems chiefly Religious, 1833 and 1845. 1. Above me hangs the silent sky. For Use at Sea. 2. Again, 0 Lord, I ope mine eyes. Morning. 3. Hail to another Year. New Year. 4. How good, how faithful, Lord, art Thou. Divine care of Men. 5. In tears and trials we must sow (1845). Sorrow followed by Joy. 6. My [our] rest is in heaven, my [our] rest is not here. Heaven our Home. 7. 0 Lord, how infinite Thy love. The Love of God in Christ. 8. Omniscient God, Thine eye divine. The Holy Ghost Omniscient.

9. The leaves around me falling. Autumn. 10. The Lord hath builded for Himself. The Universe the Temple of God. 11. Vain were all our toil and labour. Success is of God. 12. When at Thy footstool, Lord, I bend. Lent. 13. When earthly joys glide swift away. Ps. cii. 14. Wilt Thou return to me, O Lord. Lent. 15. With joy we hail the sacred day. Sunday. ii. From his Spirit of the Psalms, 1834. 16. Be merciful to us, O God. Ps. lvii. 17. Blest is the man who knows the Lord. Ps. cxii. 18. Blest is the man whose spirit shares. Ps. xli. 19. From depths of woe to God I cry. Ps. cxxxx. 20. Gently, gently lay Thy rod. Ps. vi. 21. Glorious Shepherd of the sheep. Ps. xxiii. 22. Glory and praise to Jehovah on high. Ps. xxix. 23. God in His Church is known. Ps.

lxxvi. 24. God is our Refuge, tried and proved. Ps. xlvi. 25. Great Source of my being. Ps. lxxiii. 26. Hear, O Lord, our supplication. Ps. lxiv. 27. How blest the man who fears the Lord. Ps.cxxviii. 28. Humble, Lord, my haughty spirit. Ps. cxxxi. 29. In this wide, weary world of care. Ps. cxxxii. 30. In vain the powers of darkness try. Ps.lii. 31. Jehovah speaks, let man be awed. Ps. xlix. 32. Judge me, O Lord, and try my heart. Ps. xxvi. 33. Judge me, O Lord, to Thee I fly. Ps. xliii. 34. Lord, I have sinned, but O forgive. Ps. xli. 35. Lord, my God, in Thee I trust. Ps. vii. 36. Lord of the realms above, Our Prophet, &c. Ps.xlv. 37. Lone amidst the dead and dying. Ps. lxii.

38. Lord God of my salvation. Ps. lxxxviii. 39. Lord, I look to Thee for all. Ps. xxxi. 40. Lord, I would stand with thoughtful eye. Ps. lxix. 41. Lord, my God, in Thee I trust. Ps. vii. 42. My God, my King, Thy praise I sing. Ps. cviii. 43. My God, what monuments I see. Ps. xxxvi. 44. My spirit on [to] Thy care. Ps. xxxi. 45. My trust is in the Lord. Ps. xi. 46. Not unto us, Almighty Lord [God]. Ps. cxv. 47. O God of glory, God of grace. Ps. xc. 48. O God of love, how blest are they. Ps. xxxvii. 49. O God of love, my God Thou art. Ps. lxiii. 50. O God of truth and grace. Ps. xviii. 51. O had I, my Saviour, the wings of a dove. Ps. lv. 52. O how blest the congregation. Ps.

lxxxix. 53. O how safe and [how] happy he. Ps. xci. 54. O plead my cause, my Saviour plead. Ps. xxxv. 55. O praise the Lord, 'tis sweet to raise. Ps. cxlvii. 56. O praise the Lord; ye nations, pour. Ps. cxvii. 57. O praise ye the Lord With heart, &c. Ps. cxlix. 58. O that the Lord's salvation. Ps. xiv. 59. O Thou Whom thoughtless men condemn. Ps. xxxvi. 60. Of every earthly stay bereft. Ps. lxxiv. 61. Our hearts shall praise Thee, God of love. Ps. cxxxviii. 62. Pilgrims here on earth and strangers. Ps. xvi. 63. Praise for Thee, Lord, in Zion waits. Ps. lxv. 64. Praise to God on high be given. Ps. cxxxiv. 65. Praise ye the Lord, His servants, raise. Ps. cxiii. 66.

Redeem'd from guilt, redeem'd from fears. Ps. cxvi. 67. Save me by Thy glorious name. Ps. liv. 68. Shout, ye people, clap your hands. Ps. xlvii. 69. Sing to the Lord our might. Ps. lxxxi. 70. Strangers and pilgrims here below. Ps. cix. 71. Sweet is the solemn voice that calls. Ps. cxxii. 72. The Church of God below. Ps. lxxxvii. 73. The Lord is King, let earth be glad. Ps. xcvii. 74. The Lord is on His throne. Ps. xciii. 75. The Lord is our Refuge, the Lord is our Guide. Ps. xlvii. 76. The mercies of my God and King. Ps. lxxxix. 77. The Lord Who died on earth for men. Ps. xxi. 78. Tis a pleasant thing to fee. Ps. cxxxiii. 79. Thy promise, Lord, is perfect peace. Ps. iii. 80. Unto Thee I lift mine [my] eyes. Ps.

cxxiii. 81. Whom shall [should] we love like Thee? Ps. xviii. Lyte's versions of the Psalms are criticised where their sadness, tenderness and beauty are set forth. His hymns in the Poems are characterized by the same features, and rarely swell out into joy and gladness. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907) ================== Lyte, Henry Francis, p. 706, i. Additional versions of Psalms are in common use:-- 1. Lord, a thousand foes surround us. Psalms lix. 2. Praise, Lord, for Thee in Zion waits. Psalms lxv. 3. The Christian like his Lord of old. Psalms cxl. 4. The Lord of all my Shepherd is. Psalms xxiii. 5. The Lord of heaven to earth is come. Psalms xcviii. 6. Thy mercy, Lord, the sinner's hope. Psalms xxxvi. 7. To Thee, O Lord, in deep distress. Psalms cxlii.

Sometimes given as "To God I turned in wild distress." 8. Uphold me, Lord, too prone to stray. Psalms i. 9. When Jesus to our [my] rescue came. Psalms cxxvi. These versions appeared in the 1st edition of Lyte's Spirit of the Psalms, 1834. It must be noted that the texts of the 1834, the 1836, and the 3rd ed., 1858, vary considerably, but Lyte was not responsible for the alterations and omissions in the last, which was edited by another hand for use at St. Mark's, Torquay. Lyte's version of Psalms xxix., "Glory and praise to Jehovah on high" (p. 706, ii., 22), first appeared in his Poems, 1st ed., 1833, p. 25. Read also No.

39 as "Lord, I look for all to Thee." --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907) Henry Francis Lyte - his life and timess of his friend James Edward Devereux. The mental and physical strain of looking after Swanne's affairs and parish, added to his own parochial duties was too much for Lyte's frail health and he developed lung trouble, which became so acute that his doctor told him he would have to go to a warmer climate and rest if he was to survive. It is interesting to note that Lyte came to Ireland at the beginning of England's war with Napoleonic France, and that Waterloo had been won before he left Ireland. He held a Thanksgiving Service, in Taghmon, for the end of the war. The credit for nurturing the genius of Lyte must go to Dr. Burrows and the Reverend Swanne.

Portora is justly proud of its famous pupil and has placed a tablet to him in the school chapel: This Tablet is placed to the memory of Henry Francis Lyte a boy at Portora from 1803 to 1809 the inspired author of "Praise my soul the King of Heaven" and "Abide with Me, fast falls the eventide" the favourite hymn of King George V A portrait of him hangs in the hall. They held a Service of Thanksgiving on his bicentenary and sang six of his hymns, including the full eight verses of Abide With Me (verses three, four and five are usually omitted). 3 Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word; But as thou dwellst with thy disciples, Lord, Familiar, condescending, patient, free, Come, not to sojourn, but abide with me. 4 Come not in terrors, as the King of Kings; But kind and good with healing in Thy wings, Tears for all woes, a heart for every plea. Come, Friend of sinners and abide with me.

5 Thou on my head in early youth did smile, And though rebellious and perverse meanwhile, Thou hast not left me, oft as I left Thee. On to the close, O Lord, abide with me. Verse five "Thou on my head in early youth did smile," seems an obvious reference to his time in Portora. The Henry Francis Lyte Music Rooms in the school were named in his memory. On his centenary a service of thanksgiving was held in Taghmon and a tablet was unveiled in his memory and on his bicentenary a thanksgiving service was also held in Taghmon:- The format of the tablet is as follows: Sacred to the Memory of Henry Francis Lyte A.M. Born at Kelso 1793 Died Nice 1847 "In Life in Death, O Lord Abide with me." After leaving Taghmon, he went to France and Italy to convalesce from his lung trouble, and when his health improved he moved to the parish of Marazion in Cornwall. There he met and married Anne Maxwell, daughter of Reverend William Maxwell of Monaghan. They were married in Bath, in 1818, and it was a very happy marriage.

He returned to Trinity College, Dublin, in 1820 to receive his MA Degree. His father-in-law died shortly after the Lytes were married and left them a very welcome legacy which enabled them to live in reasonable comfort, as the stipend of a clergyman was very small. The legacy enabled Lyte to pay off his debt to Dr. William Burrows in full, which gave him great satisfaction. His last parish was Brixham, on the south coast of England, where he was minister for twenty three years. He was greatly loved by his parishioners, mostly fishermen and their families. He took a great interest in their welfare and they looked forward to his many visits to their boats when they returned to harbour. He wrote a book of hymns and prayers for the sailors' use at sea, as well as the sea shanties that sailors love.

He was keen on the musical side of church worship and produced a metrical version of psalms and many hymns for church use including the well known "Praise my soul the King of Heaven," "God of Mercy God of Grace," "Sweet is the solemn voice that calls The Christian to the House of Prayer," "Pleasant are thy courts above" and many others. His parochial duties, his increasing literary writings and tutorial labours were a heavy burden. His health deteriorated and at the age of forty six he became extremely ill and had a period of intense suffering. He was warned again by his doctor that he must rest. Mrs Anne Lyte was a great support to her husband, managing the household with great economy, helping in the parish with many local projects, visiting the sick and helping the poor. Her careful management of their finances enabled her husband to go abroad to avoid the cold, damp, English winters. The death of their infant daughter saddened them both. Lyte christened her Anna Maria after his mother, whom he had never forgotten. He spent long absences abroad every winter for health reasons, which were a great trial for his family.

During his last serious illness he wrote the manuscript of his last hymn, "Abide With Me." Before going abroad he left a copy of the words and the music, which he composed for the hymn, with his daughter, but took the manuscript away with him for more revision. He sent the finished manuscript to his wife, from Avignon. He knew that it was very unlikely that he would ever return home. On reaching Nice he became very ill and died there on the twentieth of November 1847, in the Hotel de Angleterre. It was fitting, that as he was dying, he was attended by another clergyman, the Reverend Manning, Archdeacon of Chichester, who happened to be staying in the same hotel. He was buried in the English Cemetery of the Holy Trinity Church, in Nice, on 22nd November. A white cross, standing on a flat slab, marks his grave and the memorial reads:- Here rests the mortal remains of the Revd. Henry Francis Lyte, MA for 23 years Minister of Lower Brixham in the County of Devon.

Born on the 1st June, 1793, died on the 20th November, 1847. "God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." Gal. 6-14. Author of "Abide with Me, fast falls the eventide." Original tune of 'Abide with Me', by Lyte, replaced by that of Monk, 1861. A large church has been rebuilt in Brixham and dedicated to H.F. Lyte. In the church is a tablet: "Keep in mind Henry Francis Lyte, MA, first vicar of this parish and author of the hymn "Abide with Me." In whose memory the building of this church was begun AD 1884. When the sad news of his death reached Brixham the fishermen asked Lyte's son-in-law, who was curate in Brixham, to hold a memorial service and at that service "Abide With Me" was sung for the first time, and to the original tune composed by Lyte. It was a fitting requiem for Henry Francis Lyte.

In 1952 a plaque was placed on the bridge over Eden Water, that runs through the village of Ednam, to commemorate " Henry Francis Lyte., author of Abide With Me, who was born in a nearby house." On the centenary of his birth an alabaster tablet, in memory of Lyte, was placed in Westminster Abbey. It was unveiled by his eldest great-grandson, Major Maxwell Lyte "Eventide" by Monk is the tune that the hymn "Abide With Me" is usually sung to today, and Lyte's tune is seldom used. The famous contralto, Dame Clara Butt (1872 - 1936), sang the hymn in Westminster Abbey. She nearly always ended her recitals with it and it was my good fortune to have heard her singing it in Bristol, in the early 1930s. I shall never forget that rich and powerful voice singing the wonderful words with such feeling. It was an unique experience and a very emotional one to hear the greatest soloist of her time singing this hymn at the "Eventide" of her career.

The grave of Henry Francis Lyte at Nice, France ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS and SOURCES Hymn Stories: Abide With Me - Tim Challies Hymn Stories: Abide With Me March 3, 2013 Share Abide with Me” is one of the best-loved English hymns of the past 150 years. We see this both in its enduring usage in churches today and in its ongoing appearances in modern culture (for example, in the opening ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics). Sponsor Become a Patron What about the hymn has made it so well loved? The words, of course, have a lot to do with it. Each verse ends in the plea “abide with me,” making the hymn a sustained call for God’s personal presence in every stage and condition of life. The hymn resonates deeply with the hearts of those who feel their need of God. When Aileen and I suggested this song for our wedding we were told, “It’s a funeral song.” But we saw it as a deep challenge to seek God in all of life’s circumstances, till death do us part. We just went ahead and added it to the program.

Help of the helpless, O abide with me. . . . Come, Friend of sinners, and thus bide with me. . . . Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me. . . . In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me. The music has also given the hymn strong appeal. It has been sung to several different tunes over the years, with the most popular being “Eventide” by William Henry Monk, a particularly stirring melody. In 2007, Indelible Grace released a recording of the hymn featuring a fantastic new melody, which they have graciously made available as a free download (see below). One other aspect of the hymn which may also contribute to its significance is the story of its author and the context in which he wrote it. The author of the hymn, Henry Francis Lyte, was an Anglican priest and vicar of All Saints Church in Brixham, England. He was also a published poet and accomplished hymnwriter who also penned “Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken” and “Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven.”.

For most of his life Lyte suffered from poor health, and he would regularly travel abroad for relief, as was the tradition in that day. Nevertheless, he developed tuberculosis and, at the age of 54, came near to the end of his life. His daughter, Anna Maria Maxwell Hogg, recounts the story of how “Abide with Me” came out of that context. The summer was passing away, and the month of September (that month in which he was once more to quit his native land) arrived, and each day seemed to have a special value as being one day nearer his departure. His family were surprised and almost alarmed at his announcing his intention of preaching once more to his people. His weakness and the possible danger attending the effort, were urged to prevent it, but in vain. “It was better”, as he used to say often playfully, when in comparative health, “to wear out than to rust out”. He felt that he should be enabled to fulfil his wish, and feared not for the result. His expectation was well founded. He did preach, and amid the breathless attention of his hearers, gave them a sermon on the Holy Communion. . . .

In the evening of the same day he placed in the hands of a near and dear relative the little hymn, ‘Abide with Me’, with an air of his own composing, adapted to the words. ( A Dictionary of Hymnology, Vol. 1 ) Just weeks later, while on holiday in Nice, France, Henry Lyte went to be with Jesus. It was November 20th, 1847. (The author’s handwritten version; click to see full-size) Not many hymns have dramatic stories behind them. This one is not all that dramatic; but knowing that it was written by a man who was very near death at a relatively young age helps us feel its weight and sobriety all the more. Abide with me; fast falls the eventide; The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide. When other helpers fail and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, O abide with me. Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day; Earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away; Change and decay in all around I see; O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word; But as Thou dwell’st with Thy disciples, Lord, Familiar, condescending, patient, free. Come not to sojourn, but abide with me. Come not in terrors, as the King of kings, But kind and good, with healing in Thy wings, Tears for all woes, a heart for every plea— Come, Friend of sinners, and thus bide with me. Thou on my head in early youth didst smile; And, though rebellious and perverse meanwhile, Thou hast not left me, oft as I left Thee, On to the close, O Lord, abide with me. I need Thy presence every passing hour. What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power? Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be? Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me. I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless; Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness. Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory? I triumph still, if Thou abide with me. Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes; Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.

Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee; In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me. Free Download Indelible Grace has kindly offered their rendition of “Abide With Me” as a free download from NoiseTrade. It includes a PDF with the handwritten lyrics, lead sheet, chord chart, and piano sheet music. While you have the ability to leave a “tip” for the song, do feel free to take it for free (without guilty conscience! It is their gift to you). Also, if you’d like to buy any of Indelible Grace’s albums you can use the code ABIDE at the official store and get 20% off any CD. 1000+ images about hymns on Pinterest | The sweet, King george and Daughter lyrics Forward Abide With Me is a well-known Christian hymn composed by Henry Francis Lyte in 1847, though the lyrics are usually sung to William Henry Monk's melody Eventide rather than Lyte's original music. It is popular across many denominations, and was said to be a favourite of King George V and Mahatma Gandhi. It was sung at both the wedding of King Geo...

See More Abide With Me - Piano and Math Tutorials Piano and Math Tutorials Jane's Noteworthy Tutorial Users Abide With Me Abide With Me is a Christian hymn. The original tune and lyrics were written by Henry Francis Lyte in 1847. The version most often performed uses Lyte's lyrics and William Henry Monk's tune Eventide, written in 1861. Popular in many Christian denominations, Abide With Me is sung at the annual Anzac Day services in Australia and New Zealand, and in some Remembrance Day services in Canada and the United Kingdom. It has been used in several movies and television programs. An instrumental version of Abide With Me by Thelonious Monk and his jazz septet is included in his 1957 album Monk's Music. American composer Charles Ives' version of the hymn is included in his Thirteen Songs. Tutorial At Tempo, then Slow Removed. Note below.

Three choirs gather for festival of hymns | Features | annistonstar.com Three choirs gather for festival of hymns (…) DAVID CUMMINGS Betty McGinnis, David Ford, Alan Robison and Ellyn Robison at a Berman Museum reception honoring Gaston McGinnis. This afternoon, church choirs will not only deliver songs, they will be passing down pieces of history. First United Methodist Church will present an ecumenical hymn festival at 2:30 p.m. today, presenting many great hymns of the Christian faith. The Chancel Choir of First United Methodist Church, under the direction of Kathy Murphy, will sing, accompanied by Bill Wall on piano and Christopher Henley on organ. In addition, the Oxford Christian School Concert Choir, directed by Jennie Wall, and the choir of Golden Springs Baptist Church, directed by Dunaway Conner, have been invited to sing. This service is a part of the Soli Deo Gloria concert series at Anniston First United Methodist Church, 1400 Noble St. in downtown Anniston. Many hymns have interesting histories. Most of these songs of praise were written first as poems and later set to music.

For example, "O God, Our Help in Ages Past" was written by Issac Watts, an English clergyman, but it is often sung to a tune created by English composer William Croft. In other cases, a hymn is sung to several tunes or one tune is used for several hymns. Most of the hymns were originally written in German. "Abide with Me," written in 1847, is one of the most popular hymns today. It was penned by Scottish Anglican Henry Francis Lyte and set to music while he lay dying from tuberculosis. He survived only three weeks after its completion. Much later, it was published in hymnals as written by Lyte, but set to a melody by English composer William Henry Monk, "Eventide." The hymn was popular in the trenches of the First World War, and a favorite of the royal family. It was played at the weddings of both George VI to Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon and their daughter Elizabeth II to Prince Philip Mountbatten. A tribute to Gaston McGinnis The feeling among those gathered was one of gratitude for inheriting something valuable from a generous benefactor.

An afternoon reception at the Berman Museum last Sunday honored the late Gaston McGinnis for his years of service as director of the Berman Foundation board of directors. Thirteen family members were present, including his wife, Betty McGinnis, along with friends of the McGinnis family and museum supporters. Family members present were from Alexandria; Pulaski, Tenn.; Soddy-Daisy, Tenn.; and Ringgold, Ga. According to the Berman Foundation board, and certainly to close observers of the artifacts, the collection of the late Farley Berman is not only unique but one of our state’s greatest cultural treasures. The efforts to decide upon a permanent home in Calhoun County for Berman’s extensive collection began in 1992. Gaston McGinnis is recognized as the primary Anniston citizen who promoted the collection. "It was due to Gaston McGinnis’ efforts and his personal friendship with Farley that the collection being housed in the museum here became a reality," said Ed Isom, who was legal counsel for the effort. According to Betty McGinnis, Gaston and Farley Berman were friends since 1963.

"As many people remember, Farley enjoyed sharing his love of art and armory with Calhoun County citizens," she said. "Because he wanted his treasures to be placed permanently in a facility in Calhoun County, Farley and several others met many times before deciding that these important pieces of history be transferred to the Berman Foundation." The late Germaine Berman, Farley’s wife, was an important part of preserving the collection. She was a French citizen when they married shortly after World War II. Because she also spoke German and Italian, she was the negotiator concerning the collection in Europe, according to Betty McGinnis. Germaine Berman carefully catalogued each piece on 3-by-5-inch cards, McGinnis added. Today, the artifacts in the Berman collection number approximately 5,000, according to Susan Doss, registrar at the museum. "I encourage people to come and see the collection," Isom said. "It’s here for them to see.

Come, enjoy and be educated on the many facets of world history that the artifacts represent." Local actors in ‘Mary Poppins’ Eleven actors from this area have been cast in the upcoming production of "Mary Poppins" presented by CharACTers Theatre. The musical opens March 4 at Wallace Hall in Gadsden, and is scheduled to run for three weekends. In the cast from this area are Garrett Brown, Catherine Copeland, Bailey Davis, Jadon Davis and Emily Duncan. Also, Chad Miller, Aspen Staeck, Ken Staeck, Bryant Whitney, Ramsey Whitney and Scott Whitney. More about the musical in a future column. Contact Hervey Folsom at herveyfolsom@yahoo.com .

Question: What is the most popular hymn written by Henry Francis Lyte, in 1844?
Answer: Abide With Me